How to Prepare a House for Renting

homeguides.sfgate.com
by Larry Simmons, Demand Media

A good cleaning is only the start of preparing your house to be rented.

Renting out a house is a profitable way to make use of an unoccupied residence. To attract a renter, however, you have to properly prepare the house. It’s also necessary legally, as most states require a minimum standard of repair before your house can be considered habitable. Depending upon the state of the property, preparation can get expensive, possibly requiring everything from a new coat of paint to roof replacement. Once the work is completed though, you can be about the business of finding a tenant and earning a return on your preparation investment.

1

Download and print a home inspection checklist from the Internet, such as the one located on the Ask The Builder website. Perform a walk-through of the house with the inspection list in hand, checking on the condition of the house. Mark down the condition, including details on portions of the house that fail to pass.

2

Make necessary major repairs to your home. Fix structural or foundational damage before any other sort as these can cause other damage over time that will increase your repair expense. Use professional contractors for repairs you’re unfamiliar with to ensure that the repair work meets building codes.

3

Test the fixtures in the house for proper operation by turning them on and running them for a short period of time, about five minutes. Make certain none of the plumbing leaks, either at the pipe or at the faucet. Make any repairs necessary to prevent water damage and increased utility bills, especially important if you pay the utilities. Replace problem fixtures if they’ve already been repaired, as it may be less expensive before the tenant moves in than have to make a repair call. Hire a plumber for serious issues or hard to reach problem areas.

4

Test all light switches and electrical outlets for proper function and examine the outlets for any indications of damage such as burns on the surface of the outlet. If in doubt as to the safety of the electrics in the house, have a licensed electrician test the system for you and make any repairs necessary.

5

Make the house visually appealing. Clean it thoroughly, including normally closed areas such as closets or cabinets. Clean or replace stained or moldy carpets. Remove any debris in and around the house. Refinish wood floors if they appear worn or scratched. Mow the yard and trim hedges.

6

Examine the walls and floors for damage. Make repairs where necessary. Have the walls painted if the paint has chipped or faded significantly.

7

Test all doors and windows for proper function. Make certain they open and close fully, and that they fit solidly within the frame. Repair damaged openings to ensure the house is as energy efficient as possible.

8

Perform a final walk-through using your checklist. Check everything on the list as before, to make sure the repairs were completed and that you missed nothing on the first pass. Now you can start searching for tenants..

Things You Will Need

• Home inspection checklist
• Carpeting
• Wood floor stain and finish
• Lawn mower
• Hedge clippers